Rake that retrieves golf balls from water hazards

ABSTRACT

A rake that retrieves golf balls from water hazards is disclosed. Golf courses are able to use a rake that retrieves a significant percentage of golf balls lost in water hazards for themselves

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Problem Solved

Golf balls are hit into water hazards, never to be retrieved. Some golf courses use commercial companies to retrieve golf balls from water hazards using divers or other methods, but most golf balls are never retrieved.

Golf courses do not have a method to retrieve golf balls for themselves other than using commercial companies to retrieve balls from water hazards.

Golf courses are able to use a rake that retrieves a significant percentage of golf balls lost in water hazards for themselves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As stated above, golf balls are hit into water hazards, never to be retrieved. Some golf courses use commercial companies to retrieve golf balls from water hazards using divers or other methods, but most golf balls are never retrieved. The invention claimed here solves this problem.

This rake head attaches to a telescopic pole with a universal “acme” thread of any length that can be purchased at your local hardware store. A rake head of various lengths spanning horizontally extends into the water to retrieve balls from the bottom of the hazard. The number of balls you are able to retrieve is dependent on how many balls are in the area of the water hazard that you are raking.

The claimed invention differs from what currently exists. The golf ball retrieval methods that exists are for individual, not commercial use. The golf ball retrieval methods that exist retrieve a small quantities (1-4) balls at a time and the golf balls must be visible. The commercial golf ball retrieval methods that exist are large discs or other methods of trapping the balls. Golf courses contract with commercial golf ball retrieval companies to either gain a percentage of the balls retrieved or receive an agreed fee from the commercial vendor. Golf courses are able to use this rake to retrieve a significant percentage of golf balls lost in water hazards for themselves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS & IMAGES

FIG. 1 is a photo of the parts used to assemble the invention with parts & components identified.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a top view of the invention with parts & components identified

FIG. 3 is a drawing of a front view of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a drawing of a side view of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a photo of the invention attached to a strengthened pole with a rope attached in order to pull across the bottom of a water hazard.

FIG. 6 is a photo of the invention attached to an telescopic pole fully extended to reach as far as possible into a water hazard.

FIG. 7 is a is a photo of a front view of the invention identifying the two main components.

FIG. 8 is a is a photo of a demonstration of the invention lifting golf balls from a mass quantity of balls retrieved from a water hazard.

THE VERSION OF THE INVENTION DISCUSSED HERE INCLUDES

-   -   A receiving neck (22) consisting of 2 PVC tubes (9,11), a         universal acme thread adapter (12) and a brass adapter (13) are         sleeved (9,13) to make the component (22) and secured with glue         and rivets.     -   A rake head (17) consisting PVC tubing (23) drilled and evenly         spaced with tine rods (14) inserted to make the component (17)         and secured with glue.

Relationship Between the Components:

A sturdy receiving neck (22) is attached to a PVC tube (17) with fiberglass tine rods (14) using support brackets (10) and a hex bolt (16).

How the Invention Works:

A sturdy receiving neck (22) consisting of two PVC tubes (9,11) a universal thread adapter and a brass adapter (12,13) are joined together to accept a telescopic pole (19) of any length. The sturdy receiving neck is attached to PVC tube (17) using “L” support brackets (10) U bolts (18) and a hex bolt (16) for maximum strength. The PVC tube (17) contains fiberglass tine rods (14) which are evenly spaced to retrieve golf balls from the bottom of a water hazard.

How to Make the Invention:

A sturdy receiving neck (22) is made using 2 PVC tubes of different diameters (9,11) which are inserted into each other along with a universal adapter (12) and a brass adapter (13) and secured by glue and rivets creating a secure sleeve to accept a telescopic pole (19). The sleeve is attached to a rake head (17) forming a “T” and secured using a hex bolt (16) 2 “L” support brackets (10) and 2 “U” bolts (18) for strength. Evenly spaced holes are drilled into the PVC tube (23) to accept evenly spaced fiberglass rods (14), rods are inserted and glued into the PVC tube (23) to capture a golf ball and offset to keep the golf ball on the rake. All elements are necessary in order to retrieve the maximum number of golf balls from a water hazard using the rake and a telescopic pole (19). This rake can also be used to drag the bottom of a water hazard by adapting a strengthened pole (20) rather than a telescopic pole (19) and pulling the rake along the bottom of the water hazard with a rope (21) or cable.

Variations:

The width and weight of the rake it can be changed larger or smaller to accommodate the area being raked and the desired impact on the surface being raked. The length of the tines can vary within the rake tube to create a better protrusion into the surface being raked, whether it is mud, sand, gravel, vegetation or oilier debris. The material of the tubes and tines can be changed from PVC and fiberglass to aluminum, steel or other material to strengthen the rake allowing for more heavy duty applications such as a power winch with cables.

How to Use the Invention:

Choose a telescopic pole that is appropriate for the water hazard that is being raked. Attach the rake head to the telescopic pole with the universal thread by screwing the pole into the sturdy neck sleeve. Extend the rake assembly into the water hazard and pull the rake assembly back toward your position retrieving any golf balls that have been secured between the rods of the rake from the bottom of the water hazard.

Additional Uses:

-   -   Cleaning a pond. Remove vegetation or debris from the bottom of         a pond. Use with flotation devices to clear a pond of surface         debris or vegetation. Retrieving disc golf discs from a water         hazard. 

What is claimed:
 1. Having worked at or lived on golf courses most of my adult life, I became an avid collector of golf balls. Starting with walking the out of bounds areas and the perimeter of the water hazards to retrieve any visible balls. Hand held retrievers existed for scooping the visible balls from the water. Jumping in the water hazard and reaching or diving down to the bottom provided an additional method of retrieving the balls near the shore line, however, not very practical. My invention came from the realization that a large number of balls could be retrieved with a device of the right design. After years of trial, error and redesign, my claim is: This golf ball rake offers the safest, most practical way for one person to retrieve a mass quantity of golf balls from the bottom of a water hazard. 